Are you a chef and want to work and live in Australia? | Here is how
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Australia is known for its vibrant food culture, which has shaped the increasing demand for multicultural cuisines and restaurants. However, due to the Covid-19 situation the supply of chefs in Australia has decreased. As a result, the Australian government has added chefs to the priority skilled migration list in order to cope with the shortage of skilled labour in the Australian hospitality industry. So, if you are aiming to study, work & live in Australia as a chef, this article is for you. Keep up with us, as we (best migration agents in Melbourne) would guide you on the ways in which you can work as a chef in Australia on a PR visa.
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Demand for chefs in Australia
One of the foremost things that come to mind when we think about Australia is its food culture and high standard and trendy restaurants, cafes, pubs, and bars. The Australian hospitality scene has captured global attention. This trend, as a result, has boosted the growth of the Australian hospitality industry, and it is expected that this industry would need to employ an extra 91,000 people in the next 5 years. To be more specific, the Covid-19 situation led the Australian government to include the profession of the chef on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL).
The minimum requirement to become a professional chef include:
- 5 overall in IELTS with no band less than 5
- A minimum of Year 11 schooling or equivalent completed
PR pathway to Australia from the Qualification
Enrol for a Cert III in Commercial Cookery
This is a professional certificate course that prepares the students to work as a chef in Australia under student visas. It is a CRICOS registered course, which international students can also undertake. After completing the certificate course, students must undertake a mandatory workplace training of 10 weeks in a suitable hospitality establishment.
The minimum requirement, for international students, to study Certificate III in Commercial Cooking include:
- 18 years of age before commencing the course
- 5 overall in IELTS with no band less than 5
- A minimum of Year 11 schooling or equivalent completed
Course fees: Up to AU $17,310 (approx.)
Course duration: 1 year
Enrol for a Cert IV in Commercial Cookery
After the successful completion of Certificate III in Commercial Cooking, you can enroll in Certificate IV in Commercial Cooking. This is an advanced certificate program that enables students to gain specialized knowledge and skills needed to work as a chef in Australia. The duration of this CRICOS registered course is 6 months if you join it after completing Certificate III in Commercial Cookery.
The minimum requirement, for international students, to study Certificate IV in Commercial Cooking include:
- 5 overall in IELTS with no band less than 5
- A minimum of Year 11 schooling or equivalent completed
- 18 years of age before commencing the course
Course fees: AU $18000 (approx.)
Course duration– 6 months (after completing Certificate III course)
Note: Some colleges may not offer a Certificate III course, and you may have to undertake 1 and half years of Certificate IV in commercial cookery.
You can also undertake a Diploma of Hospitality Management (Commercial Cookery Pathway) after completing Certificate III and Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery. It is a 6- month course that offers to learn on customer service, budgeting, inventory control, operation planning, and so on. On the other hand, you can also apply for Trades Recognition Australia, also known as TRA, to work as a chef in Australia. TRA assesses the skills, qualifications, and employment eligibilities of overseas students to match them with Australian standards for migration purposes. TRA is essential to apply for a 485 visa.
Apply for a Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
After completing Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery you can apply for a Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) undergraduate stream. This visa allows international students to live, study, and work in Australia temporarily. To apply for this visa, however, you would need to get Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA) from Trade Recognition Australia (TRA).
Eligibility criteria to get a 485 visa, include:
- Completion of a CRICOS-registered course
- Have 6 overall but no less than 5 in any module in IELTS
- Your nominated occupation is required to be enlisted under MLTSSL
If you submit the correct documents and get approved, the 485 visas will be granted for the duration of one and half years (18 months).
Increase PR to Australia with Job Ready Program (JRP)
You should remember that successful completion of the CRICOS registered course is not sufficient to ensure your permanent residence in Australia. So, if you are aiming to apply for an Australian PR visa, you would need to enroll in a Job Ready Program or JRP. JRP enables international students to get their full Skill Assessment done. This program also assesses the students’ knowledge base as well as their capabilities to work and get absorbed in the Australian professional environment. So, your aim to work as a chef in Australia permanently can get enhanced to a great degree with a JRP.
The JRP is a 4 step program, and you will need to complete each step to proceed forward.
Step 1- Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA)
After completing the Commercial Cookery Package course, you can apply for PSA. A successful PSA, from TRA, will open the doors for Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) application. To be eligible for a PSA, you must:
- Hold an international student visa to study in Australia
- Have a qualification relevant to an occupation assessed by TRA, and awarded by a CRICOS RTO
- Have the proof of work/ vocational placement of a minimum of 360 hours relating to your qualification and nominated occupation
Step 2- Job Ready Employment (JRE)
JRE is the 2nd step of JRP. It helps international students to gain in-depth knowledge and experience in an Australian workplace. You must have been employed, over the period of 1 year, for at least 1725 hours from the start date of your TRA approved JRE in an Australian workplace.
You must maintain a monthly journal describing examples of the tasks and duties you are undertaking at your workplace.
Step 3- Job Ready Workplace Assessment (JRWA)
Under JRWA, you would be assessed by a TRA-approved registered training organisation. You would be assessed on the basis of the activities you were required to perform during the period of your employment. All those activities must be recorded in your Job Ready Journal.
Step 4- Job Ready Final Assessment (JRFA):
The final step of JRP is JRFA. The outcome of JRFA can support the Department of Home Affairs for a skilled migration visa. The successful completion of JRFA would mark the completion of the whole JRP, and you will receive a Full Skills Assessment from TRA. This can aid in your point-based application for the Australian PR visa.
Consult a migration agent for professional consultation
With a full skills assessment from TRA, you can apply for an Australian PR visa. That being said, the whole process of visa application could be cumbersome process and may involve a great deal of time. That being said, to make things easy, you may seek the assistance of a registered migration agent for professional consultation. Although it may not guarantee success in availing of the PR visa, it can surely make the visa application process to work as a chef in Australia get a lot easier.
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